The President has officially begun his second term, and the 2013-2014 session is officially on. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
1/18 Ups & Downs: Looking to purchase some function of state government? This is your week! Are you a state legislator? Then not so much.
Toomey Spox Goes to Cold Spark: Nachama Soloveichik, Sen. Pat Toomey’s Communications Director, will give up her position on the Hill and return to political campaigns.
Statewide
Capitol Ideas: One last fill-up before I go
State House Sound Bites: PA jobless rate drops, still higher than national rate
State House Sound Bites: Consider lottery plan’s effect on the corner store, some say
PA Independent: PA Week in Review: 2013 setting up to be historic year for Pennsylvania
PA Independent: Philadelphia police detained man for filming them in public, suit claims
PA Independent: Lawmaker wants to make sure new lottery agreement isn’t sullied by filthy, filthy money
StateImpactPA: Climate change featured prominently in Obama’s second inaugural address
StateImpactPA: Photographers Seek to Shine Light on Marcellus Shale Drilling
Capitolwire: The Capitolwire Procurement Beat for Jan. 18, 2013.
Capitolwire: Gov. Corbett says his budgets should make Pennsylvanians optimistic
Capitolwire: Corbett says pending Lottery deal could provide more funding for upcoming budget
Capitolwire: OFF THE FLOOR: If a tax hike isn’t passed along to consumers, is it a tax hike?
Capitolwire: OFF THE FLOOR II: Norquist group says Corbett is breaking their anti-tax pledge. Again.
Philadelphia
Inquirer: Haddonfield’s mayor announces retirement
Inquirer: Philly delegation travels to Baltimore to study surveillance cameras
Inquirer: Philly schools: Ackerman did not steer no-bid contract
Inquirer: 32-year DelCo Register of Wills staffer charged with stealing over $120,000 from county
Inquirer: Area GOP leaders soften gun control stance
Philly.com: Despite Pillegi plans, candidates announce runs for Philly Traffic Court
PhillyClout: With “Mayor 1% Nutter” in Washington, unions seek to gain ground
Heard in the Hall: Philly Unions travel to Washington, protest Nutter
Heard in the Hall: Nutter won’t appeal police raises
Commonwealth Confidential: Norquist group: Corbett’s third strike on no-tax pledge
WHYY Newsworks: Rep. Brady (D-Philly) seeks to return Philly bike race
WHYY Newsworks: Despite added jobs, PA unemployment rate slightly higher than national average
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Phoenixville school board adds full-day kindergarten to compete with charters
Pottstown Mercury: MontCo man challenging law banning synthetic marijuana
DelCo Daily Times: MontCo D.A. Risa Vetri Ferman fights parole board on release of ex-Penn prof. killer
DelCo Daily Times: Chester Upland receiver builds community team
AP: Natural gas drilling could soon be powered by natural gas
Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: 2 candidates for Common Pleas seats kick off campaigns
Tribune Review: Washington County judge questions former colleague’s handling of gas case
Tribune Review: Camelot keen on bringing keno game to Pa.
Tribune Review: Pyle named to House committees
Post-Gazette: Pa. auditor to review wastewater from shale well drilling
Post-Gazette: Gun factions line up their Pennsylvania protests
Post-Gazette: Restored funding helps rural Pennsylvania hospitals
Post-Gazette: May 21 special election set to fill state House seat
Early Returns: Casey: a call to action
Early Returns: Doyle: Sober Outlook
Early Returns: More inaugural reactions
Early Returns: Toomey: Celebration of democracy
KDKA: What Obama’s Address Means for the Next 4 Years
Southwest
AP: Corbett, lawmakers outline new agendas for Pa.
AP: DA wants to bar Melvin from raising trial issues
Beaver County Times: Report: State gets failing grades for tobacco control
NEPA
AP: Privatized lottery’s benefits touted
AP: Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon tour Pa. gas drilling sites
Times Leader: WB issues statement on concessions stalemate
Inquirer: Casey calls for more funds for federal police programs
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna State Forest expanding
Times-Tribune: Area senators can form a potential bloc
Times-Tribune: DePasquale launches Marcellus water safety audit
Citizens Voice: Lawmakers look to strengthen third-class cities
Citizens Voice: NEPA gains capitol muscle
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Lehigh Co. commissioners target affordable housing program
Morning Call: Proposal to seek bids on Forks positions fails
Morning Call: Small city mayors give Corbett mixed grades
Morning Call: Eichenberg announces re-election bid in lower Macungie
WFMZ: Governor, Senators attend crime summit in Berks
WFMZ: PA. lawmakers want state control of where sex offenders can live
Express Times: Nazareth council reappoints emergency management coordinator while contemplating changing jobs
Express Times: Bethlehem Councilman Robert Donchaz to announce mayoral bid
Express Times: Easton Councilman Mike Fleck will not seek re-election
Express Times: Allentown City Council President Julio Guridy to seek re-election
Express Times: Emmaus Councilman announces candidacy for Lehigh County Commissioners
South Central
AP: New documentary targets critics of fracking
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Lewis Butts Jr. announces he’s in Harrisburg mayoral race
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Report: Pa. high school dropout rate declines
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Gun rights protesters rally at Pa. Capitol
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Union rally in Philly calling for contract talks
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Pa. liquor board CEO to step down next month
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Corbett, lawmakers outline new agendas for Pa.
Roxbury News: Marilyn Levin Chairman, Dauphin County Democratic Committee: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mayor Linda D. Thompson
Roxbury News: PLCB: Chief Executive Officer Joe Conti Retires
Roxbury News: Linda Thompson’s Campaign Kickoff: “We know Linda D. Thompson”
Roxbury News: PA Senator John Wozniak Call for a 3rd Class City Caucus
Roxbury News: Will Dauphin County Republican Committee Endorse In This Race?
Today’s the Day Harrisburg: The first official Harrisburg City Council candidate
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Centre County schools take extra security steps: Improved measures include locking classroom doors, swiping visitor IDs
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Primary election begins Feb. 19
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Residents question eligibility of new Southern Tioga School Board member
Williamsport Sun Gazette: City pool closing measure gains; skate ban OK’d
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Mayor to seek citywide tenant registration
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Gun sales spike
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Legislator pens bill calling for federal hiring freeze
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Total gaming revenue up 4.4 percent in ’12
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Corbett touts lottery deal; AG review up next
Opinions
Centre Daily Times: Due process for Penn State is past due
Wayne Independent: What’s your view about gun issues?
Standard Speaker: End filibuster rule in Senate
News Item: Cheers to community service; jeers to Lottery proposal
Citizens Voice: State loan programs can bolster business, create jobs locally
Times-Tribune: Private sector place for liquor stores
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Action on roads: Finally, the governor is ready to make a decision
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: King and Obama: Today’s convergence highlights an uneasy contrast
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Lottery gamble: Did Corbett administration try to gauge the impact
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Fight to win: Americans must rally behind the president on guns
Observer-Reporter: Lottery’s costs could be shared
Altoona Mirror: US still making progress
Tribune Democrat: Home run for Showcase
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Lottery privatization plan too risky for taxpayers
Pottstown Mercury: Sen. Leach (D-Montco) marijuana plan is a non-starter
York Daily Record: Our take: No Tax Reform Tom
Blogs
Keystone Conservative: Sen. Toomey discusses higher education in Erie
Keystone Politics: AFSCME Neuters Nutter in DC
Keystone Politics: Free Public Transportation as a Poverty-Fighting Tool
Keystone Politics: No Labels Thinks Partisan Conservatives Charlie Dent and Mike Fitzpatrick Are Non-Partisan “Problem Solvers”
Pittston Politics: Linskey to Sciandra: “You’re just lucky I’m a gentleman”
Young Philly Politics: Mind the gap: Opting Out of Medicaid Expansion Leaves Low-income Families Behind
Bals Blog: On the Surface